Localized delivery of drug agents

ABSTRACT

Medical devices including a substrate that are expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state; a coating on the substrate, the coating having a drug agent incorporated therein; and a sheath over the coating. The sheath is expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state and has at least one perforation therein. The medical devices are configured such that when the substrate is in a compressed state, the sheath is also in a compressed state and the perforation is substantially closed. When the substrate is in an expanded state, the sheath is also in an expanded state and the perforation is substantially open. The invention also includes a method of using the medical devices for the controlled, localized delivery of a drug agent to a target location within a mammalian body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and devices for the controlled, localized delivery of drug agents within a mammalian body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The systemic administration of drug agents, such as by transoral or intravenous means, treats the body as a whole even though the disease to be treated may be localized. In such a case, systemic administration may not be desirable because the drug agents may have unwanted effects on parts of the body which are not to be treated, or because treatment of the diseased part of the body requires a high concentration of drug agent that may not be achievable by systemic administration.

It is therefore often desirable to administer drug agents at localized sites within the body. Common examples include cases of localized disease (e.g., heart disease) or occluded body lumens. Various methods have been proposed for such localized drug administration. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,121, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method of delivering water-soluble drugs to tissue at desired locations of a body lumen wall. The method generally includes the steps of impregnating a hydrogel polymer on a balloon catheter with an aqueous drug solution, inserting the catheter into a blood vessel to a desired location, and expanding the catheter balloon against the surrounding tissue to allow the release of the drug.

One of the potential drawbacks to conventional drug delivery techniques using drug-impregnated polymer coatings on balloon catheters is the possible premature diffusion of the drug out of the coating during delivery into the body. Two solutions to this problem have been proposed: the use of a removable sheath over the polymer coating, and the use of a dissolvable or meltable temporary coating over the polymer coating to protect and retain the drug agent in the coating prior to a time of desired administration at a target location. The sheath approach, however, adds considerable profile to the balloon catheter device, making access to small body lumens difficult or impracticable. Furthermore, the use of a temporary protective coating over a drug-impregnated polymer coating may place undesirable time constraints on the drug delivery procedure. Moreover, it is difficult to identify or develop temporary coatings that permit the release of the drug in a consistent and predictable manner.

In view of the potential drawbacks to conventional drug delivery techniques, there exists a need for a device and method for the controlled, localized delivery of drug agents to target locations within a mammalian body while avoiding the premature release of drug agent during delivery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention includes a medical device comprising a substrate that is expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state; a coating on the substrate and having a drug agent incorporated therein; and a sheath over the coating, the sheath being expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state and having at least one perforation therein. The medical device is configured such that when the substrate is in a compressed state, the sheath is likewise in a compressed state and the at least one perforation is substantially closed such that the drug agent does not pass through the at least one perforation. Moreover, when the substrate is in an expanded state, the sheath is likewise in an expanded state and the at least one perforation substantially opens such that the drug agent passes through the perforation.

In another aspect, the present invention includes a method for the localized delivery of drug agent to a target location within a mammalian body. The method comprises the steps of providing the medical device of the present invention; incorporating the drug agent into the coating of the device; delivering the medical device to the target location while the sheath is in a compressed state and the at least one perforation is substantially closed; and expanding the substrate to thereby expand the sheath such that the at least one perforation is substantially open. When the at least one perforation is substantially open, the drug agent moves from the coating through the perforation and into the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an expandable catheter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows side and end views of an expandable sheath in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an expandable catheter and overlying expandable sheath in a compressed state, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an expandable catheter and overlying expandable sheath in an expanded state, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows side and end views of a stent used in an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides medical devices and methods for the controlled, localized delivery of drug agents to target locations within a mammalian body while avoiding the premature release of drug agent during delivery. The medical devices of the present invention have a simple construction, provide a minimal cross-sectional profile, and allow for the easy and reproducible loading of drug agents.

The medical device of the present invention includes any one of a number of medical devices that are applicable to the localized delivery of drug agents to within the body. When an expandable catheter is chosen as the medical device of the present invention, the expandable portion is preferably a balloon as described with specific reference to FIGS. 1-4. In this embodiment, the medical device 100 comprises an expandable catheter 110 having proximal and distal ends 111, 112. Mounted towards the distal end 112 of the catheter 110 is an expandable portion 120. The expandable portion 120 is a balloon, and more preferably, a perfusion balloon, as known in the art. Such balloon catheters are conventionally used for medical procedures such as, for example, angioplasty or the placement of stents to within body lumens such as coronary arteries.

The expandable portion 120 of catheter 110 is coated with a polymer for holding the drug agent during delivery into the body. The polymer coating 130 is preferably capable of absorbing a substantial amount of drug solution. The polymer coating 130 is placed onto the expandable portion 120 by any suitable mean such as, for example, immersing the expandable portion 120 into the polymer or a solution thereof, or spraying the polymer or solution thereof onto the expandable portion 120. The polymer is typically applied to a thickness of about 1 to 10 microns, preferably about 2 to 5 microns. Very thin polymer coatings, e.g., of about 0.2-0.3 microns and much thicker coatings, e.g., more than 10 microns, are also possible. It is also within the scope of the present invention to apply multiple layers of polymer coating onto the expandable portion 120 of catheter 110. Such multiple layers can be of the same or different polymer materials.

The polymer coating 130 comprises any polymeric material capable of absorbing or otherwise holding the drug agent to be delivered. The polymeric material is, for example, hydrophilic or hydrophobic, and is preferably selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acids, cellulosic polymers, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, maleic anhydride polymers, polyamides, polyvinyl alcohols, polyethylene oxides, glycosaminoglycans, polysaccharides, polyesters, polyacrylamides, polyethers, and copolymers thereof. Coatings from polymer dispersions such as polyurethane dispersions (BAYHDROL, etc.) and acrylic latex dispersions are also within the scope of the present invention. The preferred polymer is polyacrylic acid, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,205, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,205 describes medical devices coated with one or more polyisocyanates such that the devices become instantly lubricious when exposed to body fluids.

The medical device 100 includes an expandable sheath 210 (FIG. 2), which is sized to fit over the polymer-coated expandable portion 120 of the catheter 110. The sheath 210 comprises an elastic and resilient material such that it substantially conforms to the shape of the expandable portion 120 and expands and contracts with the expandable portion 120. In a preferred embodiment, the sheath 210 is biased towards a compressed state to hold the expandable portion 120 in a compressed state when it is not expanded, thus minimizing the profile of the medical device 100. Examples of materials used for the construction of the sheath 210 include metallic materials such as nitinol and stainless steel, and polymeric materials such as ethylene vinyl acetate, latexes, urethanes, polysiloxanes, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymers, silicone rubber, SILASTIC™, aliphatic polyesters, and mixtures and copolymers thereof.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the sheath is a cylindrical tube having at least one perforation 220 therein. The sheath 210 is placed over the polymer-coated expandable portion 120 of the catheter 110 while in a deflated state as shown in FIG. 3. The proximal and distal ends 211, 212 of the sheath 210 are preferably attached to the catheter 110 such that the expandable portion 120 is completely covered by the sheath 210. The sheath 210 is attached to the catheter 110 by any suitable means, such as by adhesive materials and/or by winding a filament 310 (e.g., suture, etc.) around its proximal and distal ends 211, 212. The sheath 210 is of minimal thickness so to minimize the profile of the medical device 100. The preferred thickness of the sheath 210 is approximately 5 mils or less.

As shown in FIG. 3, the perforation(s) in the sheath 210 is (are) preferably longitudinal slits. While it is within the scope of the invention for the sheath 210 to have a single perforation, it is preferred that the sheath 210 contain multiple perforations in the shape of longitudinal slits arranged in a staggered pattern. In one embodiment, the sheath 210 contains multiple longitudinally-oriented perforations which measure approximately 0.75 cm in length, and are spaced approximately 0.25 cm apart in a longitudinal direction and approximately 15° apart in a radial direction.

The medical device 100 is delivered into the body while the expandable portion 120 is in a deflated shape as shown in FIG. 3. As such, the sheath 210 is in a compressed state and the perforations 220 are substantially closed such that the drug agent in the polymer coating 130 does not pass through the perforations 220. Delivery of the medical device 100 into the body and to a target location occurs, for example, through a body lumen (e.g., coronary arteries, portal vein, ileofemoral vein, etc.) by torquing or other known techniques.

Once the medical device 100 is positioned to a target location within the body, the expandable portion 120 is expanded as shown in FIG. 4 to facilitate the release of drug agent from the polymer coating 130. The expandable sleeve 210 is constructed so that it will not rupture when the underlying expandable portion 120 of the catheter 110 is fully expanded. When the expandable portion 120 is in an expanded state, the sheath 210 is also in an expanded state and the perforations 220 become substantially open such that the drug agent in the polymer coating 130 passes through the perforations 220. The drug agent is released from the polymer coating 130 by any suitable mechanism, such as by diffusion or pressure-enhanced release.

The drug agents used in the present invention include, for example, pharmaceutically active compounds, proteins, oligonucleotides, genes, DNA compacting agents, gene/vector systems (i.e., anything that allows for the uptake and expression of nucleic acids), nucleic acids (including, for example, DNA, cDNA, RNA, antisense DNA or RNA), and viral, liposomes and cationic polymers that are selected from a number of types depending on the desired application. For example, biologically active solutes include anti-thrombogenic agents such as heparin, heparin derivatives, urokinase, and PPack (dextrophenylalanine proline arginine chloromethylketone); anti-proliferative agents such as enoxaprin, angiopeptin, or monoclonal antibodies capable of blocking smooth muscle cell proliferation, hirudin, and acetylsalicylic acid; anti-inflammatory agents such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, corticosterone, budesonide, estrogen, sulfasalazine, and mesalamine; antineoplastic/antiproliferative/anti-miotic agents such as paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, vinblastine, vincristine, epothilones, endostatin, angiostatin and thymidine kinase inhibitors; anesthetic agents such as lidocaine, bupivacaine, and ropivacaine; anti-coagulants such as D-Phe-Pro-Arg chloromethyl keton, an RGD peptide-containing compound, heparin, antithrombin compounds, platelet receptor antagonists, anti-thrombin anticodies, anti-platelet receptor antibodies, aspirin, protaglandin inhibitors, platelet inhibitors and tick antiplatelet peptides; vascular cell growth promotors such as growth factor inhibitors, growth factor receptor antagonists, transcriptional activators, and translational promotors; vascular cell growth inhibitors such as growth factor inhibitors, growth factor receptor antagonists, transcriptional repressors, translational repressors, replication inhibitors, inhibitory antibodies, antibodies directed against growth factors, bifunctional molecules consisting of a growth factor and a cytotoxin, bifunctional molecules consisting of an antibody and a cytotoxin; cholesterol-lowering agents; vasodilating agents; and agents which interfere with endogeneus vascoactive mechanisms. These and other compounds are added to the polymer coating using similar methods and routinely tested as set forth in the specification. Any modifications are routinely made by one skilled in the art.

Polynucleotide sequences useful in practice of the invention include DNA or RNA sequences having a therapeutic effect after being taken up by a cell. Examples of therapeutic polynucleotides include anti-sense DNA and RNA; DNA coding for an anti-sense RNA; or DNA coding for tRNA or rRNA to replace defective or deficient endogenous molecules. The polynucleotides of the invention can also code for therapeutic polypeptides. A polypeptide is understood to be any translation product of a polynucleotide regardless of size, and whether glycosylated or not. Therapeutic polypeptides include as a primary example, those polypeptides that can compensate for defective or deficient species in an animal, or those that act through toxic effects to limit or remove harmful cells from the body. In addition, the polypeptides or proteins that can be incorporated into the polymer coating 130, or whose DNA can be incorporated, include without limitation, angiogenic factors including acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor a and 13, platelet-derived enotheial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, tumor necrosis factor a, hepatocyte growth factor and insulin like growth factor; growth factors; cell cycle inhibitors including CD inhibitors; thymidine kinase (“TK”) and other agents useful for interfering with cell proliferation, including agents for treating malignancies. Still other useful factors, which can be provided as polypeptides or as DNA encoding these polypeptides, include the family of bone morphogenic proteins (“BMP's”). The known proteins include BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 (Vgr-1), BMP-7 (OP-1), BMP-8, BMP-9, BMP-10, BMP-11, BMP-12, BMP-13, BMP-14, BMP-15, and BMP-16. Currently preferred BMP's are any of BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 and BMP-7. These dimeric proteins can be provided as homodimers, heterodimers, or combinations thereof, alone or together with other molecules. Alternatively or, in addition, molecules capable of inducing an upstream or downstream effect of a BMP can be provided. Such molecules include any of the “hedgehog” proteins, or the DNA's encoding them.

The drug agent is introduced into the polymer coating 130 by any suitable method. For example, the drug agent is placed in solution, which is thereafter applied to the polymer coating 130 by any suitable means, including dipping the polymer coating 130 into the drug solution or by applying the solution onto the coating 130 such as by pipet or spraying. In the former method, the amount of drug loading is controlled by regulating the time the polymer is immersed in the drug solution, the extent of polymer cross-linking, the concentration of the drug in the solution and/or the amount of polymer coating. In another embodiment of the invention, the drug is incorporated directly into the polymer prior to the application of the polymer as a coating onto a medical device. The drug agent can be applied to the polymer coating 130 either before or after the sheath 210 is placed over the coating 130. For example, if applied after the sheath 210 is placed over the coating 130, the expandable portion 120 is expanded to thereby open the perforations 220 in the sheath 210 as shown in FIG. 4. The drug agent is thereafter incorporated into the polymer coating 130 through the open perforations 220 by any suitable means such as, for example, dipping the medical device 100 into a solution of drug agent. The method of incorporating the drug agent into the coating 130 through the open perforations 220 is generally preferred, especially where the polymer coating 130 is loaded multiple times with the same or different drug agents.

The release profile of the drug from the polymer coating 130 is determined by many factors including the drug solubility, the thickness and porosity of the polymer coating, and the number and size of perforations 220 in the sleeve 210. When an expandable member such as a balloon catheter is used to administer the drug, pressure can be used to increase the rate of drug transfer to the tissue. An increase in pressure increases the diameter of the balloon and therefore the diameter of the surrounding tissue (if contacted by the balloon), thereby increasing the surface area for drug transfer. The amount of drug that is delivered per unit time is therefore increased. An increase in the rate of drug release from the polymer coating 130 is also accomplished by increasing both the number and size of perforations 220 in the sleeve 210.

During drug administration, a substantial amount of the drug agent contained in the polymer coating 130 is diffused into the affected area. The inflation pressure needed to expand the expandable portion 120 of catheter 110 is typically in the range of about 1 to 20 atm. When the expandable portion 120 comprises a balloon, it is formed of any suitable material such as vinyl polymers such as polyethylene; polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate; polyamides such as nylon; polyolefins and copolymers thereof (e.g., Selar, Pebax, Surlyn, Hytrel, etc.). The balloon is optionally a perfusion balloon, which allows blood to perfuse the catheter to prevent ischemia during delivery. A perfusion balloon is particularly preferred for long arterial delivery times and when the delivery drug is only very slightly soluble in water.

In one embodiment, the medical device 100 of the present invention includes a stent 510 (FIG. 5) for placement in a body lumen. The present invention can thus be used for the dual purpose of localized drug delivery and stent placement. As known in the art, stents are tubular support structures that are implanted inside tubular organs, blood vessels or other tubular body lumens. The stent used with the present invention is of any suitable design, and is either self-expanding or balloon-expandable. The stent is made of any suitable metallic (e.g., stainless steel, nitinol, tantalum, etc.), polymeric (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, polyacetal, polylactic acid, polyethylene oxide-polybutylene terephthalate copolymer, etc.) or biodegradable material. The stent 510 is preferably metallic and configured in a mesh design, as shown in FIG. 5. When used with the present invention, the stent 510 is placed over the sheath 210 when each of the expandable portion 120, the sheath 210, and the stent 510 are in a compressed state. The medical device 100 is thereafter delivered to a target location within the body, as previously described. In this embodiment, the target location is situated within a body lumen. When the expandable portion 120 is expanded to release the drug agent from the polymer coating 130, the stent 510 is likewise expanded. After the drug agent has been released from the polymer coating 130, the expandable portion 120 is compressed or deflated such that the sheath 210 is compressed with the expandable portion 120. The stent 510, however, remains in its expanded state within the body lumen.

The medical device of the present invention is optionally used to accomplish electroporation, in which short pulses of high electric fields are applied to a target location in the body to thereby cause cell membranes to become porous so that drug agents can diffuse therein. Any suitable modification of the medical device is made to facilitate electroporation as is known in the art, such as, for example, the inclusion of electrodes. The medical device of the present invention may also be modified, as is known in the art, for accomplishing iontophoresis in which a current is applied at the target location to promote the delivery of ionic drug agents.

The present invention provides a system and method for the localized delivery of drug agent to target locations within a mammalian body. Although the present invention has been described with respect to several exemplary embodiments, there are many other variations of the above-described embodiments which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, even where elements have not explicitly been designated as exemplary. It is understood that these modifications are within the teaching of the present invention, which is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto. 

1.-24. (canceled)
 25. A method of loading a medical device with a drug agent, comprising: expanding an elastic sheath of the medical device from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, wherein the elastic sheath has a plurality of holes therein, wherein the holes are substantially closed when the elastic sheath is in the unexpanded state, and wherein the holes are substantially open when the elastic sheath is in the expanded state; and loading a drug agent into the substantially open holes of the elastic sheath when the elastic sheath is in the expanded state.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of loading the drug agent is performed by dipping the medical device into a solution comprising the drug agent when the elastic sheath is in the expanded state.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the medical device comprises the elastic sheath and an expandable balloon, and wherein the method includes the step of placing the elastic sheath over the expandable balloon.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of placing the elastic sheath over the expandable balloon is performed prior to the steps of expanding the elastic sheath and loading the drug agent into the substantially open holes of the elastic sheath.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of expanding the elastic sheath for loading the drug agent is done by expanding the balloon.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the balloon comprises a coating, wherein the holes of the elastic sheath extend all the way through the elastic sheath, and wherein the step of loading the drug agent into the substantially open holes of the elastic sheath when the elastic sheath is in the expanded state results in the drug agent passing all the way through the elastic sheath and becoming incorporated into the coating of the balloon.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the balloon coating comprises a polymer.
 32. The method of claim 27, wherein the balloon comprises at least part of a portion of a balloon catheter.
 33. The medical device of claim 32, wherein the elastic sheath is tubular and surrounds the balloon portion of the balloon catheter.
 34. The method of claim 25, wherein the holes of the elastic sheath extend all the way through the elastic sheath.
 35. The method of claim 25, wherein the medical device further comprises a polymer for carrying the drug agent, the polymer selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acids, cellulosic polymers, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, maleic anhydride polymers, polyamides, polyvinyl alcohols, polyethylene oxides, glycosaminoglycans, polysaccharides, polyesters, polyacrylamides, polyethers, polyurethane dispersions, acrylic latex dispersions, and mixtures and copolymers thereof.
 36. The method of claim 25, wherein the drug agent comprises a drug agent selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutically active compounds, proteins, oligonucleotides, DNA compacting agents, recombinant nucleic acids, gene/vector systems, and nucleic acids.
 37. The method of claim 25, wherein the elastic sheath comprises a material selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, latexes, urethanes, polysiloxanes, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymers, aliphatic polyesters, and mixtures and copolymers thereof.
 38. The method of claim 25, wherein the drug agent comprises paclitaxel.
 39. The method of claim 25, wherein the holes in the elastic sheath are arranged in a staggered pattern.
 40. A method of loading a medical device with a drug agent, comprising: expanding an elastic sheath of the medical device from an unexpanded state to an expanded state, wherein the elastic sheath has a plurality of slits therein, wherein the slits are substantially closed when the elastic sheath is in the unexpanded state, and wherein the slits are substantially open when the elastic sheath is in the expanded state; and loading a drug agent into the substantially open slits of the elastic sheath when the elastic sheath is in the expanded state.
 41. The method of claim 40, wherein each slit has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side are substantially closed in the unexpanded state of the elastic sheath, and wherein the first side and the second side pull away from each other in the expanded state of the elastic sheath.
 42. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of loading the drug agent is performed by dipping the medical device into a solution comprising the drug agent when the elastic sheath is in the expanded state.
 43. The method of claim 40, wherein the medical device comprises the elastic sheath and an expandable balloon, wherein the method includes the step of placing the elastic sheath over the expandable balloon prior to the steps of expanding the elastic sheath and loading the drug agent into the substantially open slits of the elastic sheath, wherein the slits of the elastic sheath extend all the way through the elastic sheath, and wherein the step of loading the drug agent into the substantially open slits of the elastic sheath when the elastic sheath is in the expanded state results in the drug agent passing all the way through the elastic sheath and becoming incorporated into a coating of the balloon.
 44. The method of claim 40, wherein the slits of the elastic sheath extend all the way through the elastic sheath. 